Please Take the Chaffee Child Care Availability Survey.

It takes about 5 minutes. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5NX6VPS. Survey responses will help us address child care needs, especially for infants and toddlers. Please complete it at your earliest convenience. The survey will close February 28, 2018.
Please share as you see fit, Thank you.

The Chaffee County Early Childhood Council is a collaborative group of individuals, organizations and agencies who serve young children and their families. We build community connections so that all children get the support they need to succeed in school and life. The organizations listed below provide important services to families in our county. Unfortunately, contact information changes frequently. If you are unable to reach the organization listed, please check www.ccecc.org or call 719-221-5114 for the most up-to-date contact information.

Amazing Me-It’s Busy Being 3!

Meet Joey, an amazing 3-year-old kangaroo who is very excited about all that he can do now that he is three. Joey doesn’t know it, but these amazing things are called developmental milestones, and they’re a very important part of each child’s growth.

Parents, this book for children ages 2-4 will show you what to look for as your child grows and develops. Whether you read this story to your child online or have a hard copy of the book, ask your child to find the koala bears. Each page with a koala bear also has a star and milestone at the bottom just for you. See if your 3-year-old is able to do some of the same things as Joey.

Temperament Tool

In preparation for using the tool, read the “introduction to temperament”. It describes, for example, what high intensity vs. low intensity looks like. Two versions are available, one for 0-18 months, and another for 18 months-36 months however it can be used for older kids too (any age, although recommendations will be specific to these ages). This is NOT intended for children under 6 moths, as behavior may be linked to development and just ‘entering the world’ rather than temperament traits. Click to Learn More.

Buena Vista Recreation Department provides year around activities for kids, families, & adults. For more information contact Kathryn Wadsworth, Town of Buena Vista Recreation Director at 719-395-8643, ext. 18 or bvrec@buenavistaco.gov or visit their website at www.buenavistaco.gov.

Chaffee County Public Health offers: immunizations, Nurse Home Visitor Program (breastfeeding support, oral health and child development information), Baby and Me Tobacco Cessation Program, Cavity Free at Three screening and fluoride varnish for children age 6 and under, car seat evaluation and fitting, pregnancy testing, assistance with application and enrollment for children/adolescents and pregnant women in Medicaid State Insurance Program and Child Health Plan (CHP+) and presumptive eligibility (PE) screenings. Helpful materials are available in Salida at 448 East First Street, Suite 137; 719-539-4510.

Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) offers free preschool services for families that qualify. In Buena Vista, call 719-395-7209. In Salida, contact Chaffee County Montessori School at 719-539-4887, Salida Early Childhood Center at 719-539-1184.

Dental: Do you need help finding a dentist? Are you looking for a Medicaid Dental provider? Affordable dentistry? The Chaffee County Oral Health Program might be able to help you! The program provides information to help Chaffee County residents get the dental care they need. This is a grant funded program embedded in the Public Health Department. Since 2012 we have been educating parents, teachers, medical and dental providers with our Cavity Free at Three program. This program provides free dental screenings and fluoride varnishes to children and educating parents on how to keep their children cavity free. Some of the other services the program offers are free dental clinics in the schools, free dental screenings for seniors, help with finding Medicaid dental providers and transportation to appointments. Our Old Age Pension Dental Fund has brought much needed dental care to our seniors. If you need help understanding your dental treatment, finding a sliding fee scale clinic or questions on your child’s oral health please call the Chaffee County Oral Health Program at 719-530-2570!

HRRMC Directory of services and medical providers. Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital located in Salida, Colo. The hospital serves the residents and visitors of the Upper Arkansas Valley, including Salida, Buena Vista, Villa Grove, Saguache, Granite, Howard and surrounding communities. Download pdf.

Licensed Child Care Providers: A list of local providers is available at the Salida & Buena Vista Public Libraries, & the Chaffee County Early Childhood Council website.

Nurse-Family Partnership is a free maternal & early childhood program that provides the support & information moms need to have a healthy pregnancy, improve their child’s health & development & become more economically self-sufficient. This program is for first time moms. For more information & to see if you qualify, contact Judy Wagner, RN, MA, LPC at 719-530-2568 or 719-221-9396.

Nurturing Parenting Program offers parenting classes & activities for families with children ages 0-18 yrs. For more information call Jane Whitmer at 719-530-2579.

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides affordable & confidential reproductive services for women & men of all ages. Located in Salida at 233 East Second Street. For an appointment call 719-539-7291.

For additional local services:Chaffee County Public Health publishes a list of local services including housing, health care, food, & assistance programs for low-income families.

Early Childhood Websites, Videos & Apps

Text4Baby – Service sends free text messages to women who are pregnant or whose babies are less than a year old, providing information and weekly reminders to improve their health and the health of their babies.

Zero to Three – Science-based information & tools designed to help parents & caregivers nurture their young children’s development. Go to the Parent’s section of the website. Let’s Play! is a free parenting app from ZERO TO THREE with fun activities, organized by age and routine, for parents to use to support their young child’s early learning.

Being Amy’s Sister (Runtime: 13:42) – watch the video
About Being Amy’s Sister: On Having a Sibling with a Disability: Meg Bost, a college student, describes her experiences growing up as a twin with a sister with disabilities. Meg talks about finding support, accepting her feelings, and finding her voice as an advocate. This video has important messages for family members of children with disabilities, especially sisters and brothers, as well as providers who offer support for families. This video is a companion to the video A Reunion with Amy (see below) in JFK Partners’ ENRICH Early Intervention Reunion Videos. In this series, families who received early intervention services as long as 20 years ago discuss what early intervention services meant to them, which aspects of the services were most useful, and what has happened

A Reunion with Amy (run time 14:46) – watch the video
In this video Colorado Senator Irene Aguilar, MD and Tom Bost, MD tell the story of the birth of their twin daughters 20 years ago. They discuss what they found most useful about the early intervention services they received, the philosophies they adopted that continue to enable them to maintain the quality of life they desire for their family, and how their lives have been enriched by Amy. The video also features an interview with Amy’s identical twin, Meg.